Photograph

Craic

Kentley arrived at the airport knowing  there was no way she was going to get a flight to L.A. tonight.  Every monitor, or screen within viewing distance was tuned to a local or national weather forecast booming in unison the same news "The surprise storm of the century has the capacity to shut down the eastern seaboard for days."  The announcer stated.  "Well this is definitely going to put a damper on things" she said to herself as she pulled out her cell phone to make the phone call she'd been dreading to make for the last couple of hours.   She entered  the number and was about to press send when she was distracted by music playing in the distance.  She walked down the empty airport terminal towards the sound.  It reminded her of the music that was played during the holidays in her childhood; upbeat, cheerful, happy..."Irish" she said to herself.  She couldn't help herself, she had to see.

The airport bar was empty except for a trio of men sitting around with instruments, and a few scattered patrons sitting around on bar stools.  In the middle of the trio of musicians was a man singing his heart out, eyes closed strumming loudly to a song that you could tell he loved.  

I'll drink till its empty , stay out till its dead, I'll wake up in mid day and marry my bed. I'll kiss all the women, get punched in the head. You could offer the world baby, but I'll take this instead...

Kentley watched him from the doorway of the bar.  The trio finished the song in a flourish of loud acoustic guitars in harmony.  Kentley rushed forward clapping her hands excitedly.  "That was amazing" she exclaimed.   The singer looked up from his guitar with a grin on his face.  "Aye thank you Darlin", he drawled .  "We always take the curk on that one."  To be honest, Kentley was never one to be attracted to fair haired men with  blue eyes..  She adored men with dark features.   But this man sitting before her strumming his guitar might just change that.   "The Curk." She said with a confused look on her face. " I thought it was great." She said "Why would you think that?"  
"Ah, Americans." he thought to himself and chuckled lightly.  He looked at her with a huge grin and explained.  "The Curk means having a great time, having fun yeah."  As he stood up,  and removed his hat.  " I have to apologize as he offered his hand. "my name is Niall, Niall Horan."